julietgreen

I realise that this is a 6 year old post now, but perhaps you could elaborate on the pressure issue. I've got my J-tone pads squeezed rather tight in the gaps on my bridge. Is that not a good idea? Should I give them a little more room?

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. So far this tells me that I'm not a million miles away either with the J-tone pickups for now (This is my first year of gigging on the DB. Maybe one day I'll think about laying out more for something else) and my markbass and trace combo as my monitor with a line out to PA (possibly with no bass in my monitor if possible). I hadn't thought about blocking the F holes. I'll look into that.

I've never thought to use F hole blockers. I'm very new to the world of double bass.

I've started gigging with the DB this year. I'm using a j-tone piezo pick up and a trace amp and mark bass two by ten cab. It's been OK ish so far. The last gig I had to deal with a bit of feedback. Set up was cramped and I was practically on top of the cab. Some festy gigs coming up will have bass rig set up but they'll be for eb. I've never tried it through anything else yet. Was thinking of sticking to my combo and Di to the PA. I'd like to pick the brains of experienced dB players who have used amplification. Thoughts?

You can definitely fit both. I've been in multiple bands on saxes and bass. Rehearsals every night of the week! I was younger then. Now I grumble about having to rehearse in person and not on jamulus.

You realise this is entirely different if you're a female bassist, don't you? 😜

Thanks people for the advice. I followed some of it and I also started consciously working on pulling my shoulders back and making sure I don't drop my chin down whilst doing the things - typing, looking at screens etc. And whilst playing. I just ran through a set with minimal discomfort, so I think I might be on the right lines. I also booked a physio. I 'sledded' down the stairs about a year ago on my back (unintentionally) and that can't have helped!

This is true. It hurts when I start playing bass, but it could be typing at the computer or even looking at the phone too much that has triggered it!

You could be on to something here. I'm getting it practising at home so no amp. I'll try some amplification and see if it helps.

I guess it's always a good idea to have some lessons. I do also work on core strength. It's weird that this is a new thing.

Standing. I haven't tried sitting yet.

That's the muscle that lies between the shoulder blade and the spine, in case you weren't sure! I've been playing dB for a couple of years now and this is new. I'm playing more than I used to, because I'm now in a band and am practising more! I don't think I'm doing anything particularly wrong -though I must be. It seems to be just the action of the left hand is causing this. I'm as relaxed as I can be. I don't hold up my elbow to play. I use the weight of the arm. I'm not holding the bass tightly etc. I don't want this to become a thing that stops me from playing. Anyone had this and overcome it? J

It's gratifying to read this. At my last outing, I realised I'd gotten to the end of a short set and hadn't made any mistakes. It was a remarkable moment. It's rare. Usually there are a few and it's always about lapses in concentration.

I'm keen to do the melody for j'attendrai on double bass for the Hot Club style band that I play in. As I'm newish to dB and I've not been doing melodies so far, I'm seeking advice on which fingering you would use moving from c to d to e and back on the g string as happens in this tune.

I've got a good system that seems to work for me. I have a J-tone double bass pickup through a Trace amp into a little Mark Bass traveller cab. I think it sounds OK. I haven't gigged much with it for the DB yet - only tried out in rehearsals. The last gig I did, it had to be accoustic as there was no power.

I'm playing double bass in a new Hotclub Style band. I love it. I don't have decades of double bass experience but it's huge fun and I can get away with not being the most technically dazzling player. I had the db set up a while back and it plays fine even though it's a student model. The string are still the ones that came with it when I bought it. Anyone play HC style and do things differently string wise? Are there specific strings that work better for you? Other types of insider information also welcome.

These replies have really helped put things in context. It might have been a good networking opportunity but this was for a band I don't know and a bit of a drive away. I slightly know the person that asked me. I turned it down saying I'd be more than happy to dep for/at a gig. (It's mainstream jazz, so mostly leadsheet stuff) or to dep rehearsals online. I did this a lot between 2020 and 2023 (jamulus) and I found it to be an excellent way to rehearse. No humping gear. No freezing rehearsal rooms. No commuting. No standing around waiting for people to have fag breaks. I do enjoy playing jazz on EB but like some of you here, as I get older, I get pickier about how far I'm willing to go and how late I'm willing to set out!

Have you ever been asked to come along to a band's rehearsal because their bassist was not able to make it but they really needed some bass. I find this an odd request. No gig. No fee. Just could you come and sit in for us.

YES! This! Exactly.

Yeah. The list could be long. A specific bassline to rhythm changes? And Misty?

I was reminding myself of Night in Tunisia yesterday, and also, the Real Book suggested intro to Blue Bossa. I was thinking about pretty mainstream jazz that has special basslines with a mind to learning them properly. Herbie Hancock stuff, obviously. What else comes to mind?

Hi Doddy Yes, I know the notes in those chords, so I was wondering whether other bassists would voice them. I realise the feel of the piece would contribute to the decision.

Hmm... OK, cool. I'll have a listen to that one. It would certainly make remembering it easy. By 'one chord' do you mean one note? That's the thing...

Someone I know has written a pop song with chords along these lines: E Aadd9/E Emaj7sus2 Esus4 (x2) E Esus4 , E Esus4 Aadd9/E E Emaj7sus2 So, essentially, it could be open E string throughout! I'm not sure what I would do with it. Put in those voicings? Create an ostinato bass riff? Is there a trick here that I'm not seeing? What would you do, given it's a basic pop style, guitar led song?

Someone has asked me to play a (very simple) bass part to a bit of Bach. I have a basic double bass such as is used for jazz etc. The Bach part goes down to C. Is it feasible to drop the E string down? I know I can try it and see, but I wondered if it was something that was ever done.